Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka appointed as UJ chancellor
AUCKLAND PARK – Distinguished person with a demonstrable record of excellence, leadership for the betterment of society, and service to her community to take over as new UJ chancellor.
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is ready and excited to announce and welcome the former United Nations (UN) under-secretary-general and executive director of UN Women, Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka as their new chancellor.
She will succeed Professor Njabulo Ndebele, whose second five-year term as chancellor ends at the end of September with her five-year term taking place between October 2022 and September 2027. UJ vice-chancellor and the principal is one of many at UJ pleased with the appointment.
He stated, “As the first woman to hold the position of deputy president in South Africa, Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka provided political oversight to several programmes to combat poverty and bring advantages of a growing economy to the poor. In doing so, she embraced the technologies that the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) provides, using ICTs for development. She would, therefore, be a most excellent ambassador for UJ’s approach for social justice and 4IR.”
Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka was a member of the country’s first democratically elected Parliament in 1994 and featured as a minister, deputy minister and deputy president of South Africa between 2005 and 2008. In 2013 she was appointed as the UN under-secretary-general and executive director of UN Women.
As the head of the United Nations entity that is dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, she was a global advocate for women and girls. She led the organisation’s innovative work on transforming social inequalities and discriminatory norms, with initiatives such as the HeforShe movement, the UnStereotype Alliance initiative and helped countries to change hundreds of laws that discriminate against women and girls.
The chair of UJ Council Mike Teke said, “The position of chancellor at UJ demands a person of stature, exemplary moral and ethical values, someone who will not shy away from addressing some of our greatest challenges and someone who will speak for those who often have no voice in society. Such a person is indeed Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka. She is a distinguished person with a demonstrable record of excellence, leadership for the betterment of society, and service to her community. We look forward to her contribution toward our vision: An international university of choice, anchored in Africa, dynamically shaping the future.”
Teke paid tribute to the outgoing chancellor, Prof. Ndebele, stating that he contributed immensely to UJ’s strategic direction and its growth trajectory on the research front with admirable research outputs. “This has helped the university in positioning itself as an important player in the higher education sector, both locally and internationally.”
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